Living Well in Litchfield County, Connecticut

Explore Litchfield County this May with a myriad of fun events, from nature walks to a pickle fest, art exhibits, live music, and more.  

May 1

Tasting Dinner, NEW MILFORD
Join Chef Dino Kolitsas from Greca as he takes guests on a guided tour of the Greek kitchen’s millenia-long love affair with the sea. Dishes will include taramosalata, grilled octopus, bronzino, midopilafo (mussels pilaf) and more. 6:30 pm

The Three Amigos, LITCHFIELD
Join the Three Amigos, Rabbi Eric Polokoff, Father Joe Donnelly and Imam Gazmend Aga as they reflect on the resources for real hope and repair that each of their religious traditions offer. The day will offer participants quiet time to consider what the Three Amigos speak about as well as the opportunity to ask them questions. 9 am – 3 pm.

May 2

Ancient Aliens Live, TORRINGTON
The Warner Theatre will host Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth, a live, in-person event that will explore questions as old as the planet itself: Have extraterrestrials visited Earth? Are they here now, and when will they reveal themselves? 7:30 pm.

An Evening with John Dear, LITCHFIELD
Meet Rev. John Dear as he signs your books at Wisdom House. In this new and original work, John walks us through every line of the three synoptic Gospels pointing out Jesus’ practice and teachings of nonviolence each step of the way and invites us to become practitioners of creative nonviolence like Jesus. Copies of The Gospel of Peace will be available for purchase at Wisdom House in the bookstore before and at the event. 7 PM – 8:30 PM.

Artists’ Talk, LITCHFIELD
Artists’ Talk on ‘Inspiration and Technique’ with Sally Frank & Wendy Costa
Free – Live, In-Person & Live on Zoom – Registration required for In-Person
7 pm – 8 pm.

Spring Bog Talk & Walk, WOODBURY
Join area naturalists, Barbara and Peter Rzasa, at the Whittemore Sanctuary for a presentation describing the formation of bogs, plants found in bogs, and how to build a do-it-yourself mini-bog measuring less than four square feet containing several easily grown wetland plants. Then, join them on a walk at the Whittemore Sanctuary to view these native wetland plants. Talk: Thursday, May 2 at 7 pm in the studio. Walk: Saturday, May 4 at 10 am at the Whittemore Sanctuary.

May 3

Photography Walk , LITCHFIELD
Join fine art photographer and instructor Thad Kubis for a 90-minute walk around Laurel Ridge Farm. Known for their annual spring display of tens of thousands of daffodils and narcissus, this year the field of flowers are expected to peak during the first week in May. 2 pm- 3:30 pm.

Tea Social & Daffodils, LITCHFIELD
Join Erin, LCC Staff member, for a scenic drive along Route 254 as the group venture sto Cutie Pie’s Bakery for tea, sweets, and friendly conversation. 1 pm – 3 pm.

An Evening with MADZ, WATERTOWN
Musical covers, Rock, Blues and oh yeah, some Irish stuff squeezed in. Join the 88 Keys Piano Bar & Cafe for a night of music by MADZ! 7 pm – 10:30 pm.

Closing Photo Reception, VILLAGE FALLS
The Hunt Library in Falls Village CT will host a closing celebration for the exhibition From the Great Falls to the Hilltops: Early 20th Century Photography from the Mabel Hallaway Collection. The event will feature a slideshow focusing on Mabel Hallaway and some of the people in her portraits including her brother Harry Edmund Dean, and community members Catherine Woodin and Grace Silvernale. Curator Garth Kobal will talk about his personal experience working on the project. 5 pm – 7 pm.

Anastasya Peña Art Show,
The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to welcome an art exhibit featuring works by Anastasya Peña. The exhibit, “Spillover,” will be on view beginning Friday, May 3. The show highlights Peña’s layered abstract paintings. A reception with the artist is being planned.

Rosemary Rose Finery Grand Opening, SALISBURY
Rosemary Rose Finery, on Main Street in Salisbury, is having its grand opening Friday, May 3 – May 5. The eclectic new jewelry shop will feature modern fine jewelry, vintage and costume jewelry, along with an array of artful objects for the home and heart. Owner Jessica DeCarlo, a Brooklyn-based jeweler for over 16 years is excited to meet you.

May 4

Spring Craft Fair, NEW MILFORD
Stop by New Milford and enjoy the Spring Craft Fair from 10 am – 3 pm on Main Street.

Reading the Landscape, WASHINGTON
Reading the natural landscape offers a planting palette that is both resilient and already adapted to your specific eco-region. Learn, at the Hollister House Garden, how to use native plant communities in your backyard and the surrounding habitats as a mirror for the types of plants that will survive and thrive in the built landscape. 10 am – 11:30 am.

80’s Dance Party 18+, LITCHFIELD
Break out the mullets and reeboks. Come join the Litchfield Community Center as Mischief makes it’s debut performance in Litchfield for this 80’s Themed Dance Party! 7 pm – 10 pm.

Star Wars Day, NEW MILFORD
May the Fourth Be With You! Celebrate Star Wars Day at the New Milford Library. Fun activities for all ages–trivia, crafts, and more. Plus, local middle school and high school students will performing Star Wars songs during the day. 1 pm – 3 pm.

Pickle Fest, BETHLEHEM
March Farm present’s Sweet Pete’s Pickle Fest, May 4 – 5 from 11 am to 6 pm. Tons of pickle inspired foods and drinks such as pickle grill cheese and fried pickles. Learn to make your own pickle products at the pickle demo at 1pm. There will be live music, crafts, the mobile pub and so much more.

Book Signing, WASHINGTON DEPOT
The Hickory Stick Bookshop is delighted to host Connecticut author Brendan Flaherty who will be here to sign copies of his new book “The Dredge” at  3 pm. This event is free and open to the public.

October Project Album, NORWALK
Join October Project (Emil Adler, Julie Flanders & Marina Belica) and special guests including Dave Sabatino and Leslie DiNicola LIVE for a celebration of music, poetry, and film at the album launch of their full-length studio recording, ‘The Ghost of Childhood’. Enjoy an evening of mini-performances, screenings, and a meet & greet with the band in an extraordinary setting, The House Up On the Hill in Norwalk. 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm.

May the 4th Kids Program, FALLS VILLAGE
Calling all kids and Jedis-in-Training! Join the David M. Hunt Library for Star Wars Day on Saturday, May 4th, from 10:30 am – 12 pm. After reading a Star Wars story, practice your Jedi skills with a make-your-own light saber station, a Jedi-in-Training obstacle course, Star Wars crafts, and light saber pretzels. May the Force be with you!

Family Day: Space Studies, WINSTED
AMP’s Family Days offer games, storytimes, and creative activities for the whole family to enjoy, Kids under 18 get in free. May the Fourth Be With You!  Join on Saturday, May 4, for imaginative activities for kids, tweens, and teens that focus on our quarterly theme of Space/Science.

Hotchkiss Philharmonic, LAKEVILLE
Don’t miss the exciting season finale of the Hotchkiss Philharmonic at 7:30 pm. Vive la France! This celebratory evening will feature pianists Fabio and Gisele Witkowski performing Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos in D Minor and maestro Vahan Mardirossian.

Kent Springfest, KENT
Celebrate spring in Kent, walk through the town and you will discover a myriad of places to visit. From Main Street to the Kent Barns you will find incredible restaurants and cafes, impeccable inns and bed and breakfasts.

Cinco De Mayo Celebration Featuring the Band BooYah Funk, WASHINGTON
Enjoy a night of great music and delicious food. The Swanson Foundation Food Truck will be serving delicious Mexican cuisine and The Mobile Pub will be serving their signature cocktail…the Margarita!

Smyrski Farm Bird Walk, NEW MILFORD
Join NCLC, and noted local Audubon birder, Angela Dimmitt, for an early morning bird walk through NCLC’s 220-acre Smyrski Farm, home to 65 species of birds (and counting). Bring binoculars and wear long pants and boots, as the grass may be high. 7 am – 9 am.

May 5

Cinco de Mayo with Bahama Mama & The Painkillers, NEW MILFORD
Be sure to wear your beach attire and get ready to chillout to some great Trop-Rock. Limbo and Hula Hoop contests with fun prizes. Beach chairs welcome. Bahama Mama and the Painkillers is a local CT based original beach band. With musical influences coming from Sublime, Jimmy Buffett, 311, Jack Johnson, and a bit of surf rock, this band will make you feel like your toes are in the sand with a drink in your hand. 4 pm – 7 pm.

Chamber Music Concert, ROXBURY
Long River Concerts is performing at 3 pm at the Roxbury Congregational Church, featuring Alissa Leiser, piano, and guest artist Natasha Brofsky, cello, a member of the award-winning Peabody Trio and on the faculty of The Juilliard School.

Spring Art Show @ Gallery 25, NEW MILFORD
The Gallery 25 Member’s Annual Spring Show runs from April 12 to June 9. The public is invited to view and enjoy some of their member artists’ best work in a wide variety of mediums including paintings, pottery, collages, assemblages, mixed media, photography, wood work, wearable art jewelry, and more not-to-be-missed works.

Watertown HS Spring Fest, WATERTOWN
Watertown High School Project Graduation & The Watertown Food & Fuel Bank Present – The 2024 Spring Festival! Enjoy music, dancing, magicians, and more. Admission – One non-perishable food item to benefit The Watertown Food Bank. 5 pm.

May 7

Ainissa Ramirez Event, NEW MILFORD
Celebrate National Inventors Month. Listen as scientist Ainissa Ramirez examines eight inventions and reveals how they shaped the human experience. Ramirez is the author of The Alchemy of Us, named one of Smithsonian Magazine’s Ten Best Science Books of 2020. 6 pm – 7 pm.

Exercise for Women, LITCHFIELD
Move Your Mind, Move Your Body: Exercise class for senior women at the Oliver Wolcott Library. Free – Live, In-Person & Live on Zoom – Registration required for In-Person. 10:15 am – 11 am.

Book Talk: Ryan Bernsten, FALLS VILLAGE
At 5:30 pm the David M. Hunt Library will host Ryan Bernsten, author of 50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy, who will speak about his book. Bernsten undertook a 23,000-mile journey through all 50 states of his home country to answer the question: Is America as divided as it seems?

May 8

Tea & Chocolate, HARWINTON
Celebrate Mom with a whimsical Tea Party celebration! Participants will dress in fancy hats to enjoy vintage displays, Mother’s Day trivia, poetry, and a sampling of teas, fine chocolates and baked goods. Licensed chocolatier Kim Larkin returns to the library to host this festive program. 12 and up.

Living w/CT’s Wildlife, LITCHFIELD
The “Living with Connecticut’s Wildlife” presentation focuses on how to live with and enjoy our wild neighbors. 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at the Litchfield Community Center.

Beatles vs. Stones, TORRINGTON
These two legendary bands will engage in an on-stage, throw down – a musical ‘showdown’ if you will – courtesy of tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show. 7 pm at the Oneglia Auditorium.

Plein Air Watercolor Works, WOODBURY
Three session workshop with watercolor artist Diane Dubreuil at the Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust. The class is designed for anyone who wishes to begin painting ‘en plein air’ with watercolors or for those with some experience who may need help redirecting their creative thinking. 9:30 am – 12:30 pm. May 8, 9, and 10.

May 9

Plush at The Jameson Pub, WATERTOWN
Plush is a rock band with a mission to bring rock back to the forefront of the music industry. The band is composed of talented young women. Check them out at the Jameson Pub in Watertown 7 pm – 12:30 am.

Evening Glow Music, LITCHFIELD
Enjoy Evening Glow Music Series Spring Season for free at the Litchfield Community Center from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. All are welcome to join for relaxing and reflective music to close the day by Wendy Kerner, Harpist. Performances are followed by a reception with refreshments.

Peggy Mercury Opening, KENT
Peggy Mercury is a multi category boutique and gallery featuring beauty, accessories, art and objects. Join Kent Barns for their opening weekend with Peggy Mercury. May 9 –  May 12.

May 10

“A Bright Future” with author Joshua Goldstein, SALISBURY
Listen to a reading/discussion of “A Bright Future (How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest can Follow)” with author Joshua Goldstein at the Salisbury School. 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm.

Opening Reception, HARWINTON
Litchfield Hills Camera Club’s photography exhibition. Work will be on display in the Activity Room and Online Gallery during May and June. The Camera Club meets twice a month in the library and welcomes new members. 5  pm – 7 pm.

Fashion Show, LITCHFIELD
Want to dress with style? Have fun with vintage? Get some new tips and inspiration? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to shop at a consignment store? Come by the Oliver Wolcott Library for a fashion show with Rachel’s Quality Consignment Shop. Free – Live, In-Person only – Registration required. 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm.

18+ Trivia Night, LITCHFIELD
Join the Litchfield Community Center for Trivia with Trey. 6;30 pm – 8:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30, games begin at 7 pm. BYOB & Snacks to get your game on with Trey.

May 11

Sumi-e Painting, WASHINGTON
Learn the basic techniques of sumi-e, Japanese black ink painting with Joanne Wasti. Using the blossoming magnolias of Hollister House Garden as inspiration, each participant will create original sumi-e ink paintings. While you will be using black ink, colors will be available to those who want to branch out. This class is suitable for all levels. 1 pm – 4 pm.

Poetry Contest Readings, NEW MILFORD
Join the New Milford Library for the Winners of the New Milford Poetry Contest reading their poems. This is a FREE event from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Madama Butterfly at the Warner Theater, TORRINGTON
Join the Warner Theater for a performance of Madam Butterfly. 12:55 pm in the Nancy Marine Studio. 

Book Signing, WASHINGTON DEPOT
The Hickory Stick Bookshop is delighted to host author Jack Sheedy who will sign copies of his new book In My Father’s Tire Tracks at 3 pm. This event is free and open to the public.

ArtWall Reception, FALLS VILLAGE
From 4 pm – 6 pm, the David M. Hunt Library will host an opening reception for A Star Danced: The Paintings of Mary Anne Carley and Theresa Kenny. The exhibition features the work of two Sharon-based painters who happen to be mother and daughter.

Audubon Event, SHARON
Join Sharon Audubon’s celebration of World Migratory Bird Day. There will be a native plant display and sale as well.
10 am – 1 pm.

May 12

Miracle Island – Kenise Barnes Fine Art, KENT
Check out Sharon resident, Kozik’s, artwork. Minor miracles mostly surface from the rhythms of her day. Prosaic encounters of beauty during hikes, strolls, and swims simmer on the back burner of her mind until stirred up and warmed they knock on her door, demanding to be painted. Show runs from March 30 – May 12 at Kenise Barnes Fine Art.

Materia Mothers Day Prix Fixe Brunch and Dinner a la carte, BANTAM
Join Materia for Mothers Day! Enjoy a Prix fixe Brunch from 11 am – 2 pm or Dinner a la carte from 4 pm – 7 pm.

May 16

Meet The Author, LITCHFIELD
Meet Richard Deming – Author of This Exquisite Loneliness from 7 pm – 8 pm at the Oliver Wolcott Library or on zoom. This event is free to the public.

Asking For Trouble, TORRINGTON
Join the Warner Theater and get ready for an evening of sidesplitting laughter as Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, the dynamic duo from TV’s “Whose Line is it Anyway?,” take the stage in a one-night-only uproarious live show, Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble. 7:30 pm in the Oneglia Auditorium.

May 17

A Weekend Workshop, WASHINGTON
Dig deep into the fundamentals of gardening in this weekend-long, intensive workshop with Daryl Beyers. Whether you are new to gardening or have a few seasons under your belt, this comprehensive course will develop and refine your skills. May 17, 4 pm – 7 pm, May 18, 10 am – 3:30 pm, and May 19, 10 am – 3:30 pm.

Friday Feast & Dancing Feet, LITCHFIELD
Join the Litchfield Community Center for an afternoon of dancing, delicious food, and great company while listening to the band Over Easy! Pre-registration is required at least 2 days in advance.

Marcia Zug Author Event, NEW MILFORD
Come and listen to Marcia Zug talk about her book, You’ll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love at the New Milford Public Library. The book takes a deep dive into the unromantic, but much more common than most would think, reasons for marrying throughout history. 5 pm – 6 pm.

Kevin James: Owls Don’t Walk, TORRINGTON
Returning by popular demand – Kevin James will be at the Warner Theatre on May 17 at 7:30 pm.

May 18

Litchfield Art Festival 2024, NEW CANAAN
Fourth annual outdoor juried fine art show, “Litchfield Art Festival 2024″. This show will be a highlight for collectors and residents from the Tri-State region, New England, and beyond. May 18–19, 10 am. – 5 pm.

Fenimore Lane Design Summit, WASHINGTON
Join Fenimore Lane Design for a celebration of design in the countryside and shop our all-day design bazaar, featuring 30+ vendors and renowned designers under two tents at this exquisite country retreat. 11 am – 1 pm | 1 pm – 3 pm | 3 pm – 5 pm.

Plant Sale, WASHINGTON DEPOT
The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens invites the community to its fourth annual plant sale and Gardenpalooza 10 am to 1 pm. The sale features a variety of perennials, annuals, flowers, vegetable, and herb plants available from Meadowbrook Gardens.

Plant, Book & Bake Sale, HARWINTON
The Harwinton Library Friends are sponsoring their annual Plant, Book and Bake Sale. Stop in for plants and baked goods generously donated by local residents as well as visit our basement for gently used books. All proceeds support library programs. 9:30 am – 2 pm.

2nd Home Blues Return!, WINSTED
Join the 2nd Home Lounge when the 2nd Home Blues return to this cozy new spot. It’s a bar and cafe cleverly disguised as a comfortable living room!.Craft beers, local wines and spirits, and creative cuisine along with some lively Blues and Americana from Slim & St. George make for a great time! 7 pm – 10 pm.

Homegrown Plant Sale, FALLS VILLAGE
The David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will host its annual Homegrown Plant Sale from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, and 9 am to 2 mp on Sunday. Falls Village’s own growers, gardeners, and CSAs will provide a wide variety of plants, including a large selection of tomatoes, vegetables, annuals and perennials, and houseplants including potted geraniums and hanging baskets from HVRHS. Proceeds benefit the Hunt Library and HVRHS.

Music in the Nave’s “Mozart in May”, KENT
The Manhattan String Quartet will inaugurate Music in the Nave’s “Mozart in May” programming May 18 at 4 pm at St. Andrew’s Church in Kent. The Manhattan String Quartet has toured the world and released landmark recordings such as the complete Shostakovich quartets.

Adventurous Aging, CORNWALL
At 6 pm, the Cornwall CT Library presents a special evening with Caroline Paul, author of Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking—How Outdoor Adventure Improves Us as We Age.

Spring Gala & Auction, SHARON
Support the work of the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, and have a great time doing so at its Spring Gala from 5 pm – 7 pm. Set in a spectacular mountain top home, the event will feature locally sourced food, drinks, music, silent and live auctions and a paddle raise. Sponsored by Tri State F.E.E.D. committed to enhancing regional food security and resiliency through education, advocacy & collaboration.

Greenwoods Annual Gala 2024, WASHINGTON
Greenwoods’ annual benefit is a critical source of funding for the comprehensive mental healthcare that they provide to the community. This year they are proud to honor Pam Bowman with the Jane L Havemeyer award. Help them celebrate Greenwoods’ incredible growth by sponsoring this year’s event! 6 pm – 8:30 pm.

May 19

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, LITCHFIELD
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is an international men’s march where men and boys lead the way to end sexual and domestic violence by walking one mile in red high-heeled shoes. 10:30 am – 11:30 am.

Trade Secrets Rare Plants and Garden Antiques Sale, LAKEVILLE
Join Trade Secrets for their rare plant and garden antiques sale at Lime Rock Park. The event begins at 7:30 am.

May 22

Evening with Johannes Brahm, LITCHFIELD
Pianist Joseph Jacovino and clarinetist Vincent de Luise will perform selections from Brahms’ Lieder and the piano Rhapsodies, and a Brahms chamber music masterpiece for clarinet and piano at the Litchfield Community Center from 7 pm – 8 pm.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, LITCHFIELD OR ZOOM
Mark Schenker returns to the Oliver Wolcott Library to lead discussions on two 20th c. American novels by women: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943) by Betty Smith (1896-1972) and The Optimist’s Daughter (1972) by Eudora Welty (1909-2001). 2 pm – 3:30 pm.

May 25

Get GardenFit, WASHINGTON
Learn how to work stronger and longer with Madeline Hooper, creator and host of the hit National Public Television series, “GardenFit”, at Hollister House Garden. By applying the basic principles of balance, form, and habit to your garden chores you can take care of your body while taking care of your garden. 10 am – 11:30 am.

The Fungus Among Us with Dave Paton, LITCHFIELD
Dave Paton is just plain giddy about mushrooms and wants to share his enthusiasm with you. Spend a couple of hours in the forest with Dave learning do’s and don’ts, basic identification, and stories behind all of the fungus among us! 10 am – 11:30 am at the White Memorial Conservation Center.

Art Show Opening, WASHINGTON DEPOT
The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to welcome an art exhibit featuring works by Jack Rosenberg. The exhibit, “Dancing to the Colors of Life,” will be on view beginning Friday, May 24. The show highlights Rosenberg’s representational paintings using bold colors, and his ceramic work. An opening reception will be held Saturday, May 25 from 4 pm to 6 pm.

May 26

Mine Hill Gravel Challenge, ROXBURY
Are you ready for the toughest road half marathon in Connecticut?!  The Mine Hill Half Marathon is one of the most beautiful, yet breathtaking (both visually and physically!) races you will run.  Experience sweeping country views past farms, fields, and vistas.  With the start/finish at the Mine Hill Distillery. 7 am packet pickup, 8:30 am start.

Hagerty Cars & Caffeine Car Show at Lime Rock Park    ,
The Hagerty Cars & Caffeine Car Show at Lime Rock Park is open to all classic, vintage, exotic, and motorcycles. Show entry will include: 2 weekend passes 2 people Sunday-Monday to the Vintage and Trans Am Auto Race – Touring on the raceway in your show car Monday during the lunch hour – VIP Parking — Full access to the racecar paddock.

May 30

Meet Your Greens, NEW MILFORD
Join NCLC, Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust, Deer Pond Farm, Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological Research Center, Housatonic Valley Association, Kent Land Trust, and Warren Land Trust at Housatonic River Brewing on Thursday, May 30 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This casual event is free, open to the public, and an excellent opportunity to get to know others working or volunteering in the conservation field. 5 pm – 7 pm.

May 31

Walt Whitman Performance, NEW MILFORD
Celebrate Walt Whitman’s birthday with this splendid one-man show. Since the late 1990’s, Stephen Collins’ performances have captured the attention of the audience. It is not just the stunning resemblance to Walt Whitman himself, but the portrayal of the character and the essence that he brings within arm’s reach to the audience that makes the poet come to life. 5 pm – 6 pm at the New Milford Library.

Five Points Arts’ Interior Courtyard Grand Opening VIP Cocktail Reception, TORRINGTON
You’re invited to the Five Points Arts’ Interior Courtyard grand opening cocktail reception. Enjoy the newly renovated Interior Courtyard, jazz by Peter McEachern’s FREQUENCIES, exclusive previews of the Juried Print Exhibition, specialty hors d’oeuvres, wine, and Five Points Arts edition beer, and cocktails by Litchfield Distillery. 6 pm – 8 pm.

By Jane Garmey

Photos by Stacy Bass

My most vivid memory when faced with making a garden almost 20 years ago was a sinking feeling of not knowing how or where to begin. The house we had recently bought in Cornwall sat on rough grass punctuated by a few crumbling stone walls. Six ancient maple trees shaded the house from the road but otherwise it presented a dauntingly blank slate.

It seemed logical to begin with making a flower bed in front of one of the stone walls but I soon found its length intimidating and divided it into two beds, using the space in between to create a path to the area behind the stone wall. I knew it would help to have a schematic plan but I never made one. Instead, I planted a mix of perennials and shrubs, wanting to achieve a variety of height and shape.

Visiting nurseries was the best part of my gardening education. “Oh reason not the need” that line from King Lear became my mantra since I have little self-control when it comes to buying plants and even less when wowed by a plant I have never thought of using or, more likely, have not previously encountered. And what can equal the pleasure of arriving home after a horticultural shopping spree and opening the back of the car to see that jumbled array (too many) of enticing newbies crammed together and ready to join my garden party.

Friends have played a decisive role in how my garden has evolved. It took a chance visit by master gardener, Robert Dash of Madoo fame, to advise that a parterre won’t work on even a gentle incline. Now obvious but then it was a revelation and not welcome since it required an expensive yellow machine to level off the slope. However, the resourceful operator suggested using his remaining time to clear the mass of tangled brush growing between a small barn and a former chicken house. Eureka! The space he opened up proved the perfect spot for a picking garden and the perfect site for an antique iron fence—an impulse buy made some months earlier.

Another stroke of luck was being at a friend’s garden while she was dismantling a tiny Lord & Burnham greenhouse. “Could you use it?” she asked. Could I ever! Attached to one side of the house, it now gives my parterre definition and symmetry. Another friend, deciding to install a swimming pool in place of the previous owner’s garden, offered me four weeping cherry trees, 15 Hydrangea paniculata, and several colonnade apple trees if I could remove them in 48 hours! Somehow it got done and the cherry trees, planted in four gravel squares behind the stone wall, became a new garden room with the remainder of this fabulous haul vastly improving other parts of the garden. 

A visit to the Alhambra convinced me I needed a rill, which in turn necessitated a brick path and a row of hornbeams. When no grass would grow in the shade of an enormous pine tree, I dug up and planted bucketfuls of Petasites japonicus ‘Gigantea’ tubers from a neighbor’s garden. Yes, it is invasive and has to be fiercely reined in but it offers a dramatic backdrop for my ever growing birdhouse village.

In spite of my best intentions, my garden never gets finished. I love annuals and each year end up with far more pots on my terrace than I intend. Searching out antique garden ornaments never loses its appeal, and now I’m seriously thinking about a meadow of native wildflowers. On it goes! No peace for the wicked!

Jane Garmey writes about gardens, food, and interior design. She is the author of six books (her most recent being City Green: Public Gardens of New York) and her articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, AD, HG, Elle Décor, Country Life, Introspective, and Town & Country, where she was for many years its garden correspondent.

Bantam

Camp Chinqueka 
An all-girls camp that focuses on self discovery through activities like culinary arts, swimming, dance, waterskiing, ziplining, and more.
Ages 6-16
Sleepaway Camp
860-567-9678
chinqueka.com

Barkhamsted

Boulder Ridge Day Camp
Co-ed day camp that offers both athletic and non-athletic activities such as aquatics, sports, outdoor adventures, and arts & sciences.
Ages 4-14
Day Camp
860-379-6500
boulderday.com

Bridgewater

Bridgewater Summer Camp
Fun summer activities lined up for campers to enjoy the outdoors.
Ages kindergarten – 12
Day Camp
860- 355-9133
bridgewater-ct.gov

Colebrook

YMCA Camp Jewell
Offers an overnight camp, day camp, and  ranch camp, where campers have the opportunity to customize their program each week.
Ages 7-14
Day and Sleepaway Camp
860-379-2782
campjewell.org

Cornwall

Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater Arts Camps 
Act, dance, sing, make art, perform! Two theater camps this summer from July 15-18 for ages 6-14 at Rumsey Hall and from July 29 – August 3 in Cornwall. Children will train with a team of professional actors, musicians, artists, and act in a show. Celebrating 44 years. Winner of CT Governor’s Arts Award.
Ages 6-14
Day Camp
860-672-0286
[email protected]
grumblinggryphons.org

The Village Music School
Four-week online music instruction sessions. 40 to 45 minutes per lesson with a virtual recital each session.
Ages 5-12
Day Camp
860-212-6990
thevms.org

Goshen

Camp Cochipiannee
Provides a safe environment for campers and staff along with a fun summer schedule.
Ages 4-12
Day Camp
860-601-6089
goshenct.myrec.com

Kent

Benchmark Hockey Camp
Five day camp that helps boys and girls develop their hockey skills on and off the ice.
Ages 9-16
Sleepaway and Day Camp
860-671-7177
[email protected]
Benchmarkhockey.com

Camp Kent Summer Camp
Park & Rec camp programs age-appropriate activities that instill positive values, life skills, and boost confidence. 
Ages 5-12
860-927-1003
townofkentct.org

KenMont KenWood
Wide range of activities such as basketball, culinary arts, go karting, and paddleboarding.  
Ages 7-15
Sleepaway
860-927-3042
kenmontkenwood.com

Slamma-Jamma Summer Basketball Camp
Provides instruction that will help your child become a better basketball player.
Ages  7-14
Day Camp
860-927-1003
townofkentct.org

Lakeville (Salisbury)

Burnt Squash Camp
Join for 5-days of fun squash for all levels! Three sessions, Monday-Friday, weeks of July 8, July 15, & July 22.
Ages 8-14
Day Camp
203-912-0585
[email protected]
Burntsquash.com

Arsenal Football Development Camp
Arsenal Soccer Camps are an incredible opportunity for players of all abilities ages 7 – 14 to experience the methodology and get inside access to one of the world’s most successful soccer clubs. Official Arsenal coaches conduct training sessions at the Hotchkiss School for the ultimate soccer experience. 
Ages 7-14
Day Camp
Arsenalcampsus.com

Hotchkiss Summer Portals 
Presents students the opportunity to hone a talent or learn something new.
Grades rising 7 – 12
Sleepaway Camp
860-435-3173
Hotchkiss.org

Nike Basketball Camp
Coed camp that focuses on fundamental basketball skills from ball-handling to footwork.
Ages 8-15
Day Camp
ussportscamps.com/basketball

Rafa Nadal Academy Camps
Join the official Rafa Nadal Academy camp this summer and improve all aspects of your tennis game. With both a junior camp and adult clinics, this is your opportunity to experience high performance tennis training at the Hotchkiss School. Athena.rafanadalacademycamps.com
Ages 9-18
Day Camp
athena.rafanadalacademycamps.com

YMCA Camp Sloane
Campers achieve new skills, attain self-confidence, and build lifelong friendships.
Ages 8-16 
Teen program: 16-18
Sleepaway and Day Camp
860-435-2557
campsloane.org

Litchfield

Camp Hope
Focuses on giving campers the freedom to experience a variety of challenging adventures and activities.
Ages 7-17 
Sleepaway Camp
860-567-1525
camphope.com

Forman School’s Summer Program
Forman School’s Summer Program, a coed boarding and day camp, takes place July 1- 26. The program offers a balance of academics and recreation for students entering grades 7-11 who learn differently. Students develop effective classroom and study strategies, learn self-advocacy, and make lasting memories. 
Grades 7-11 
Sleepaway and Day Camp
860-567-8712
formanschool.org/academics/forman-summer

White Memorial Summer Nature Camp
Various age based programs where the camper will experience and learn more about nature.
Ages 4-14
Day Camp
860-567-0857
whitememorialcc.org

YMCA Camp Mohawk
A day and night camp for girls to enjoy fun summer activities such as archery, horseback riding, and more.
Ages 5-15
Sleepaway and Day Camp
860-672-6655
campmohawk.org

Morris

Camp Awosting
All-boys summer camp focused around developing brotherhood, independence, confidence, and experience. 
Ages 6-15
Sleepaway Camp
860-567-4924
awosting.com

Camp Washington
Encourages exploration, growth, and individuality all in week long sessions.
Ages 7-16
860-567-9623
Sleepaway Camp
[email protected]
campwashington.org

Kids’ Watersports Camp
Campers spend an entire day on the boat learning new skills such as wakeboarding.
Ages 8-14
Day Camp
860-295-4640
connwatersports.com

Fox Crossing Equestrian 
Campers learn how to take care of horses, take riding lessons, and participate in outdoor games.
Day Camp
860-567-1788
[email protected]
foxcrossingequestrian.com

New Milford

Buck’s Rock Camp
Campers have the option of creative and performing arts. They can spend time with various animals and help grow fruits and veggies in the garden.
Ages 10-17
Sleepaway Camp
860-354-5030
bucksrockcamp.org

New Milford Parks & Recreation Summer Camps
Campers partake in a variety of activities designed to develop life skills and to have fun.
Grades 1-9
Day Camp
860-355-6050
[email protected]
newmilfordct.myrec.com

Pratt Nature Center Summer Camp
Offers a co-ed program for children who have interests in the outdoors.
Ages 3+
Day Camp
860-355-3137
prattcenter.org

New Preston

Summer @ Washington Montessori School
Washington Montessori offers a variety of summer camps and programs for students ages 3-14 on their 48-acre campus nestled in the Litchfield Hills. These offerings range from a Montessori-inspired program for the youngest campers, to sports clinics and specialty camps for the older campers.
Day Camp
[email protected]
washingtonmontessori.org

Plymouth

Camp Mattatuck 
A place where cub scouts turn camp into a home over the period of five weeks.
Ages 5-18
Sleepaway and Day Camp
860-283-9577
campmattatuck.org

Sharon

Challenger Soccer Camp
Week long camp for players to learn and develop their soccer skills.
Ages 3-14
Day Camp
860-364-1400
sharonct.org

Little Rascals Summer Program
Beachfront property offering swim lessons and access to waterfront activities. Arts and crafts, theme weeks, and sporting activities included.
Ages 5-12
Day Camp
860-364-1400
[email protected]
Sharonct.org

The Sharon Audubon Center Summer Camp
Educational and interactive programs where campers learn about nature and animals.
Ages 3 – Grade 12
Day Camp
860-364-0520 ext.105
[email protected]
sharon.audubon.org

Sharon Baseball Camp
Individual skill work through drills and activities. Participants receive an individual evaluation.
Ages 7-14
Day Camp
860-364-1400
[email protected]
sharonct.org

Sharon Playhouse Summer Programs
Singers, dancers, and actors of all levels create fully staged productions.
Ages 5-18
860-364-7469
sharonplayhouse.org

Silver Lake Camp and Retreat
Variety of programs for campers to experience nature, make friends, and explore their faith.
Grades 4-12
Sleepaway Camp
860-364-5526
[email protected]
silverlakect.org

Torrington

Camp Wah-Nee
Focuses on positivity and encouragement as campers step out of their comfort zone.
Ages 7-17
Sleepaway Camp
860-379-2273
wahnee.com

Northwest CT YMCA Camps 
Campers learn new skills, develop their character, and make lifelong friendships. 
Ages 3-13
Day Camp
860-489-3133
nwcty.org

Washington

ASAP Summer Camp
Campers  practice artistic expression, create friendships, and explore the arts.
Grades 1-12
Day Camp
860-868-0740
asapct.org

Eagle Rock Day Camp
Eagle Rock Day Camp in Washington offers exciting activities for campers ages 4-13. Their schedule blends planned and choice activity time, with athletic and non-athletic options available. They prioritize a positive experience for parents, providing flexible registration and all-inclusive tuition covering lunch, snacks, bus transportation, and special camp events.
Ages 4-13
Day Camp
860-868-9200
eaglerockday.com

The Glenholme School
Therapeutic recreational activities such as swimming, academics, dance therapy, and performing arts.
Ages 9-21
Day Camp
860-868-7377
theglenholmeschool.org/summer-program/

The Institute for American Indian Studies
Campers learn about various American Indian cultures through activities, crafts, and stories. 
Ages 6-12
Day Camp
860-868-0518
iaismuseum.org

28th Annual Litchfield Jazz Camp
Students learn in a non-competitive program taught by a faculty of inspiring jazz musicians. 
Ages 13+
Sleepaway Camp
860-361-6285
litchfieldjazzcamp.com

Pilobolus Kids Camp
A one-of-a-kind opportunity for children to engage in Pilobolus’s signature processes of learning through movement. Through creative play, improvisation, motor skill building, and performance, children discover their own creative voice and learn how to share it with others.
Ages 6-12
Day Camp
[email protected]
pilobolus.org/camp

Rumsey Summer Camp
Weekly themed activities such as animal adventure and space explorer.
Ages 3-10
Day Camp
860-868-0535
[email protected]
rumseyhall.org

Titus @ Rumsey Summer 2024
Titus Tutors is partnering with Rumsey Hall’s innovative and experienced teachers to provide one-on-one instruction in phonics, emergent reading, literature, writing, and math for students in grades K-9, and SSAT prep classes or 1:1 tutoring in grades 7-10.
Ages 5-15
Day Camp
203-942-0305
titustutors.com

Watertown

Glazey Dayz
Week long session for campers to learn different clay techniques and create art pieces. 
Ages 8-10
Day Camp
860-274-9946
glazeydayz.com

YMCA Camp Mataucha 
Campers experience new adventures such as ropes courses, boating, and more.
Ages 5-14 
CIT – 15+
Day Camp
waterburyymca.org

Winsted

Greenwood Trails 
Campers develop skills and confidence through a range of activities from art to athletics.
Ages 8-16
Sleepaway
860-379-6517
greenwoodtrails.com

Woodbury

Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust
Children are immersed in nature, art, agriculture, ecology, cooking, and various other programs.
Ages 3-13
Day Camp
203-263-3711
flandersnaturecenter.org

Little Britches Therapeutic Riding
Little Britches aims to enrich the lives of those with disabilities using the movement of a horse. The summer program provides therapeutic riding and equine-assisted riding to individuals with various disabilities.
Ages 3-18
Day Camp
860-874-9352
littlebritchesct.org

Parks & Rec Summer Camp
K-9 summer camp includes sports, arts & crafts, games, and a weekly field trip on Thursdays. Summer camp for ages 7-9 includes a new trip/adventure each day, such as Lake Compounce, Xperiment VR, Flight Adventure Park, and more.
Ages K-6, 7-9
Day Camp
203-263-3113
woodburyct.myrec.com

Written by Tovah Martin

Photos by Rana Faure

Cobble Pond Farm is all about stewardship for the future and respect for the past. 

Arrive at Cobble Pond Farm, and you feel its presence. There’s an embracing quality to Kathleen Metz’s 250-acre Sharon property; there’s a sense of being enveloped in its volume. But you can’t quite put your finger on what sparks the overwhelmingly unique experience until you realize: It’s the trees that set this estate apart. 

Cobble Pond Farm is a unique sylvan adventure. The beauty of this meticulously maintained landscape lies partly in the diversity of trees, including specimens that have lived on the property for a hundred years or more performing beside recent arboreal introductions. Every individual is flourishing in radiant health and harmony, thanks to painstaking stewardship. This is a property that looks and feels deeply loved.

Initially, it was Kathleen Metz’s husband, the late Jay Metz, who discovered the Sharon estate in 1981 and coaxed Kathleen to leave their beloved Salisbury garden and adopt the orphaned property that sat vacant for too long. The vestiges of a formal garden remained. Several impressive trees were already in residence, but the Metzes were unaware of the property’s pedigree. It wasn’t until 1995, when Kathleen was in the throes of designing the garden, that her gardener stumbled on the original garden plans while rummaging in the attic of the potting shed. Those plans revealed a fascinating truth: The garden was originally laid out by the Olmsted Brothers. That knowledge put another level of pride in the project, but the Metzes were already deeply committed. 

The formal garden within the clipped yew hedge is the space that has Olmsted written all over it. Getting the yew pruning right to expose all angles to sufficient light has been a long-standing challenge. Meanwhile, perennials within the beds are a smart selection for partial shade including astrantia, kirengeshoma, chelone, filipendula, lady’s mantle, peonies, and painted ferns. From spring onward, the space is a wash of gentle color and texture.

Marsha Kaufman of Gardenscapes has been coming to Cobble Pond Farm every Tuesday for 22 years to design and tend the landscape. Invariably, Kathleen Metz works beside her as they decide how the garden can be perfected. Twice annually they take a field trip to Rosedale Nursery with the specific mission of selecting 10-12 trees to bolster the aging woody inventory at Cobble Pond Farm. Those trips have brought novelties such as a yellowwood, tricolor beech, and Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ into the picture. A rare weeping hornbeam and fastigiate Norway maples were found during other nursery quests. Those newbies join phenomenal woody residents with deep roots such as an enormous gingko and an equally impressive copper beech. A notable future addition will be a mature white oak, inspired by Doug Tallamy’s revelations about the essential role oaks play in the preservation of native pollinators. Similarly, environmental action has caused a swing in the property’s pendulum. “Before it was primarily about beauty,” Kaufman says of their plant selection. “Now, native plants are always on our mind.”

Shrubs form a mid-layer and they are also carefully selected. From variegated smoke bush to dark-leaved elderberry, shrubs jazz up the garden with flashy leaves. When everything is in full flower, the overall picture is incredibly lush. It’s ravishing, but it’s not a carnival. “It’s all about continuity,” says Metz, “everything has to relate in color, shape, and form.” And it’s not only about late spring/early summer. Throughout the year, Cobble Pond Farm is exuberant. “We’re very proud of what we’ve done here,” Metz admits, “We have a good time working together and that’s reflected in the garden. It’s like a happy home.”

Trade Secrets Returns in 2024

Photos by Anne Day Photography and Curated Garden Views by Mike Samuelson

Project SAGE is thrilled to announce the return of Trade Secrets, the revered gardening extravaganza, for its 24th consecutive year on May 18 and 19, 2024. This eagerly anticipated event promises an unparalleled experience for gardening enthusiasts and novices alike.

On Saturday, May 18, attendees will embark on a captivating journey through six exceptional gardens, ranging from the private sanctuaries of Bunny Williams and John Rosselli, to the enchanting landscapes of Millbrook. These carefully curated spaces offer a wealth of inspiration and ideas, showcasing the beauty and creativity of Connecticut and New York’s finest landscapes.

The festivities continue Sunday, May 19, with the highly anticipated Rare Plant and Garden Antiques Sale at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville. With over 40 vendors presenting a stunning array of garden antiques and rare plants, this sale is a must-attend for plant enthusiasts and garden aficionados.

“Trade Secrets is more than just a garden event; it’s a celebration of community, resilience, and the enduring spirit of Project SAGE,” remarks Kelly Rybczyk, Interim Executive Director at Project SAGE. “For over two decades, this horticultural extravaganza has played a pivotal role in supporting our mission to cultivate safe, thriving communities free from domestic violence and abuse.”

Trade Secrets is more than an event; it’s a joyful celebration of horticulture and a vital opportunity to support Project SAGE’s mission. Project SAGE is a nonprofit domestic violence agency serving Northwest Connecticut and neighboring communities in New York and Massachusetts. For more information or to volunteer, visit project-sage.org.

Tickets on sale at TradesecretsCT.com or by calling 860-364-1080.

An 1810 Roxbury Antique Gets a 21st Century Makeover

By Jamie Marshall
Photos by Ryan Lavine and Gross & Daley

It was love at first sight for Patricia Yarberry Allen when she stepped into the antique Greek Revival on South Street in Roxbury. “You know how people say they get struck by a certain house and they just know?” she says. “I just knew.”

Part of the appeal was the location on the edge of the town’s historic district. Part was the finished basement. But the biggest draw? The view. “When I stepped inside I could see all the way from the front entrance out through the dining room windows to a sloping lawn and trees and out to a very large pond. I felt like I was home.” 

“Home” was the three-story 1890 farmhouse in Columbia, Kentucky, where she grew up. Her mother was a teacher who instilled in her daughter a love of reading at a young age. ““One of my favorite books was my mother’s 1945 edition of Emily Post’s Etiquette. Emily taught me how things should function and how they should look,” she says. “I very much wanted to create that kind of life for myself.” 

 Precocious, smart, and driven (her friends call her a force of nature), Yarberry Allen started working at a local hospital before she was 16. “I lied about my age,” she says. She moved to New York after medical school to complete her internship and residency at Cornell-New York Hospital before going on to establish the thriving women’s health practice she still runs today.

In 2015, she and her husband Douglas McIntyre, a founder of digital media sites and consultant for nonprofits, sold a vacation house in Palm Beach and rented a mid-century modern in Litchfield County hoping to find something to buy. “The topography reminds me of southcentral Kentucky,” she says. “Except that every two miles you see a sign for an Episcopal church instead of a Baptist church.” 

As soon as they settled on Roxbury property, Yarberry Allen turned to her good friend and neighbor, New York City-based designer, Glenn Gissler, to bring their  vision to life. The goal? “Sophisticated, comfortable, gracious, dramatic, and personal,” says Gissler. “I think we were creating the farmhouse of her youthful dreams.” One by one, he ticked all the boxes. Among the priorities—space for books and clothes. Both Yarberry Allen and her husband are voracious readers.“I’ve known Pat for about 40 years. She buys good clothes and she still has all of them,” he says. 

Most of the interior work involved “architectural corrections,” which were done by a local contractor, Ryan Fowler. He also reconfigured the attic into a proper third floor, lined two walls of one sitting room with bookshelves, and created a storage pantry for Yarberry Allen’s tabletop collection.

Much of the furniture was repurposed from her former homes. The foyer chandelier came from a Madison Avenue duplex she owned in the ‘80s. “Initially that foyer had rough hewn beams and columns and with the amazing chandelier we needed to make the space a little more formal,” Gissler says. “We painted the wood paneling aubergine. It’s a dramatic color. She’s not afraid of it at all.” The sitting room couches are dressed in an aubergine linen from Romo, while the club chairs are done in a gray floral by Kravet. 

Though she’s not a fan of window treatments, “I have no interest in fussy stuff,” Yarberry Allen says—she made an exception in the primary suite. “Glenn gave me these beautiful cream-colored linen drapes. I wake up in the morning and pull them back and the sun hits my eyes while I’m having my breakfast. It’s an oasis.”

A Litchfield Garden Keeps Current While Honoring Its Traditional Roots

Written by Tovah Martin

Photos by Kindra Clineff

When a gardener starts digging in at age ten, there’s plenty of time to evolve. Although Glenn Hillman knew from that tender young age historic traditional landscapes would be his focus, he always keeps his finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the field. For Hillman, that means watching many webinars and reading countless books. But he also listens to his land. The result is an informed relationship with the space. But beyond that sensitivity, his property now also reflects give and take with his garden design clients. 

Trained in architectural history, Glenn Hillman’s garden design is perfectly in sync with his surroundings. When he moved to Litchfield with his family in 1993, the two-acre property offered a refreshing opportunity to garden on a sunny spot rather than the shade of his former digs. Given the prominent Litchfield center location, there was never any question that the garden would be formal. And traditional was the orientation that Hillman was comfortable with from his childhood on up, following formative years spent paying call to historic properties like Colonial Williamsburg and Old Sturbridge Village. Even if the house had not come with the remnants of a vintage garden, Hillman would know exactly what was appropriate. But the ghost of a garden still existed. Although the fences were in sorry shape and elements needed revamping, it was the beginning of a beautiful journey. 

Back when Glenn Hillman moved in, the concept of an herb garden felt absolutely right. He loved the practical, utilitarian spin as much as the simple beauty of the herbs themselves. That said, he went with particularly ornamental versions of traditional herbs. Variegated comfrey, golden oregano, silver thyme, and other herbs that combined colors and wove together harmoniously created a pretty matrix. Herbs were just the beginning, he also added a pocket rock garden filled with alpines to celebrate his newfound sunny exposure. He installed a fruit tree allée and capped it with a smartly retro garden/tool shed. In retrospect, he sums up that energetic inception as, “I dove in headfirst.” That said, it has endured the time test. His choice of brickwork and all the original hardscape has weathered beautifully. What has changed dramatically over the decades is his choice of plants.

Hillman traces his major growth spurt as a gardener from the time that he began visiting other gardens. “I was exposed to so many different plants on tours, I began to increase the colors and textures here.” Meanwhile, when he began to design professionally, he felt the pressure to experiment. “I don’t want to take too many risks for a client,” he explains. His adventuresome spirit translated into experiments in his own domain, eventually leading to informed professional choices. In addition, his garden is a showplace to help clients define their horticultural personalities. 

Hillman’s own garden is deftly loved and immaculately groomed, but it’s also the smartly practical composition that he can maintain personally with minimal help. Getting the maintenance down and the aesthetic up is his lifelong goal. Simultaneously, he keeps a finger on the pulse of new movements and understandings in the field. “I want to be able to do anything,” he says of open-minded education to inform his design capabilities for clients, “I’m continually getting nuggets of ideas that inspire new concepts.” 

In spring, Glenn Hillman’s garden is dripping in flowers to create a perfect parfait of flouncy color, strong in structure to hold the glory. It’s the stuff of dreams. His goal is to continually increase that crescendo with poofy shrub borders, billowing trees, and great plant selections. He’s tirelessly experimenting with native plants and their compatibility with the Litchfield climate. He’s gathering ideas from other globally important garden designers. “I used to be isolated,” he admits. Now the whole world is his classroom.

A New Market in an Iconic Setting Finds Its Way Home

By Cynthia Hochswender

Photos by Ryan Lavine

For decades it was known as Baird’s, a market and sandwich shop at the intersection of Routes 4 and 7 in Cornwall. When the Baird family moved on to other projects, the new owners named their store the Cornwall Country Market—but many locals referred to it as “New Baird’s,” while the store of their memories was known as “Old Baird’s.”

Will Schenk is the newest owner of the iconic space, which he purchased in late 2022, renovated extensively, and opened as the Cornwall Market in January 2024. 

Schenk is a “tech” guy (his current project involves electric vehicles), but his partner in the market is chef Tyler Forvé, a friend from many years ago. A few years ago they started a cocoa bean company in Colombia, and began making artisan chocolates. Their goal was to have consumers begin to understand the distinctions between cocoa beans, in the same way that many Americans now seek specific coffee beans, or specific wine grapes. 

It is the chocolate business that is at the heart of the new market, with a curated selection of bon-bons made on the premises, in flavors such as passionfruit-caramel-whiskey and mandarin-lime-wild mint. Eventually Schenk and Forvé plan to sell the chocolates to a wider audience.

In addition to the one kitchen dedicated to chocolates there is also a special pastry kitchen that produces cookies, doughnuts, flaky croissants, chocolate-pistachio babkas, cardamom buns, and more. 

The main kitchen produces sandwiches, salads, and daily soup specials. Particularly popular has been the falafel sandwich, which is made with fresh green chickpeas, not the canned or dried beans that are commonly used. Also in demand: The pulled pork sandwich, with meat cooked over firewood on a grill in the yard behind the market (which will soon have seats for outdoor dining).

Some “to-go” items are found in the refrigerated cases, which also act as storage space for the chefs. Shoppers can pick up rare edibles such as purple broccolini, French breakfast radishes, royal truffle mushrooms, and fresh lemongrass, which also appear as ingredients in that day’s meals. There are containers of “Ron’s Kimchi” and “Mild Beatnik Purple Rain Vegan Curry.” In the freezer case are store made ice creams in exotic flavors such as matcha-mozzarella-guava, candy cap (like the mushroom), and mango creamsicle.

On the unrefrigerated open shelves are baskets of fresh garlic, dried chili peppers, and fresh spices. There is also a room dedicated to local products such as honey and maple syrup—and household essentials, such as children’s Tylenol. 

With that range of products, he hopes the market will become a destination for locals, and a stop for visitors here on vacation or driving along Route 7.

“I’m trying to have something for all our constituents,” he says. For now that includes Korean rice balls, gorgeous soups, small meals, housemade nut mixes, flours and grains from Wild Hive in Clinton Corners, a sophisticated spread called “Untella,” housemade granolas, and trail mixes. Everything is made from scratch. 

It is truly a moveable feast.

Go to Cornwallmarket.com for store hours.

By Brandee Coleman Gilmore

Lindera at The Fen is not your typical plant nursery. It’s your ECOtypical one. 

To explain what that means, you need to meet Michele Paladino, Matthew Sheehan, and Heather Liljengren, three New York city transplants who found each other through a love of the land. Sheehan, a produce and willow farmer, moved to Sharon 12 years ago after a teaching career in the NYC public schools. Liljengren has a budding landscape business, LocalLand Consulting, in Washington, after spending 15 years in the NYC Parks Department. Former Brooklyn nursery owner Paladino now operates as a grower and landscape designer on the same property as Sheehan—the resident ‘plant whisperer.’ This trio is at the forefront of a growing movement to restore native habitats in a better way—what Liljengren refers to as the new gold standard—using ecotypes.

“It’s about the right plant in the right place,” says Paladino.

In recent decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency helped draw up maps of ecoregions in North America, where growing conditions such as climate, soil, and geology are taken into consideration, like hardiness zones, only better. Two ecoregions cut across Litchfield County—#58 and #59. The plants and animals thriving inside them are known as ecotypes.

“If you’re going to move seed around, and you’re going to move plants around you should try to stay within your ecoregion because that’s where those genetics are adapted to, and that’s where they’re going to perform the best,” says Liljengren.

Ironically, the problem is obtaining these hyper-local ecotypes. Most of the ‘native plants’ for sale are grown in the Midwest or South. That’s why these three have gotten to work. As a botanist, Liljengren can identify and collect native plants in Litchfield’s ecoregions. Paladino knows how to harvest their seeds and grow them. That just leaves one gap, a place to set up shop. This is where farmer Matthew Sheehan comes in.

“I would not only like to grow seed myself, but also teach local farmers to grow seed, too.”

He says it’s not a major shift.

“You’re not changing techniques, you’re not buying new equipment… you’re basically not planting one plant, and you’re planting another.”

Liljengren says there’s an added lure for farmers. “Adding a few row crops in, not only are they going to help produce seed, but also attract pollinators which only are going to then help and benefit the food crops that are grown on site.”

Sheehan’s plot of ‘ecoregion 58 plants’ will create new seeds that can be sold, or nurtured into seedlings by Paladino for local landscapers or homeowners to buy. Lindera at The Fen plans to have seedlings available at Trade Secrets in Sharon, and will host walking tours this summer in conjunction with their ecoregion 59 counterpart, Tiny Meadow Farm in Danbury. Both want to be a resource for those seeking to preserve more of what makes Litchfield County special, says Paladino.

“To me, the true uniqueness is the land. And the land provides for these plants in a way that’s really distinct.”